A new document published by the Vatican is the result of dialogue with non-Catholic churches on a topic that has been a source of division: the role of the pope.

The document responds to an invitation from Pope John Paul II to all Christian confessions in the encyclical Ut Unum Sit. In it, he outlined the need to find a way for the role of the pope to be recognized by all.

Distinguishing the functions of the pope meanwhile emphasizing his role as Bishop of Rome
Among the proposals made in the document is a call for a clearer distinction of the pope’s responsibilities. On one hand, he is Patriarch of the Western Churches. On the other, he holds primacy on a universal level because he is in charge of maintaining unity. He is also the head of a government—the Vatican City State—meanwhile serving as the Bishop of Rome.

The text recommends that the pope’s role as Bishop of Rome be emphasized more as it may make it clear to other bishops that he is one among them.

The first Vatican Council
One of the conclusions of the First Vatican Council that has caused controversy in ecumenical dialogue was the declaration of papal infallibility.

This new document calls for an “updated commentary” of some of the decisions made in this council to adapt it to the current culture and ecumenical context.

Synodality
The meaning of synodality has been a central topic in the Catholic Church for decades. In the document, the Vatican recognizes the challenge of involving all levels of the Church in this discussion and also touches on the role of bishops’ conferences.

The nature of this new document is not legislative nor does it impose new models of conduct for relations with other churches. But it is one more step in the theological dialogue where different points of view emerge. The document closes by outlining the need for continuing this dialogue and pointing out various ecumenical initiatives.

Bishops from around the country are heading to Louisville as their bi-annual meeting is set to kick off Thursday in Kentucky.

During the two days of discussions, the bishops are expected to touch on a variety of important topics concerning the Church, including migration, the Synod on Synodality, and the National Eucharistic Revival happening now.

The national correspondent for The Tablet and Crux, John Lavenburg, joins Currents News to discuss what to expect from the first day of meetings.

Catholics across the country are encouraged to join the pilgrimage at any point in the journey, but four nuns are taking up the challenge to travel the entire route.

These women, from the order “Daughters of Mary, Mother of Healing Love,” said they felt called to travel the Seton Route since they first heard about it.

However, when they reached out to the Congress about being perpetual pilgrims, they found out it was only for young people.

Later, they talked to the priest in charge of the Northeast journey, who said they could join as long as they had a support vehicle.

Merely hours later, the nuns received the donation they needed to make that happen.

Since then, they have been happily traveling alongside the pilgrims and updating their more than 10,000 followers on social media.

Antonia Salzano is celebrating the news that her son will soon be a saint. The woman who raised Carlo Acutis and took pictures of him playing in the snow, dressed as superheroes, and celebrating birthdays said he was just your average kid.

“He lived a daily life with his classmates, he used to do sports, he used to be a normal young boy,” Salzano said.

However, there was one big exception: Jesus was the center of Acutis’ life.

“Carlo lived this presence of Jesus in everything he used to do,” Salzano said.

She said Acutis started going to Mass every day at seven years old. He took part in Eucharistic adoration, prayed the Rosary, and read the Bible.

He even sparked her conversion.

“Carlo was for me like a little savior, because before I was like a Protestant,” Salzano said. “I thought the sacraments were symbols. Simple symbols. And the Blessed Sacrament was a normal piece of bread, even after the consecration.”

Her child made her a believer, especially after the teenaged computer whiz created a virtual exhibition on Eucharistic miracles, which has led to the conversion of thousands.

At the end of his life, when he was just 15 years old, Salzano said Acutis was not afraid to die.

“He was not scared about death,” Salzano said. “He used to say death is the passage to the true life.”

Even after his death from leukemia, Carlo Acutis continues to evangelize.

Hundreds of thousands viewed his beatification Mass, and with his canonization ahead, Salzano has just one hope.

“I hope Carlo will switch on the faith,” Salzano said.

Another story she told was that after her father died, Acutis, who was not even five years old, told her his grandfather came to him and asked him to pray for him since he was in purgatory.

Salzano said Acutis started praying for the souls in purgatory and never stopped.